The family life-cycle

Duvall identified eight different stages of marriage. The first of these is the honeymoon period, in which the married couple are learning to live together, without having children. At this time, they are getting to know each other and setting foundations for later life. Statistically a couple whose honeymoon period lasts for two years or more before children come along are much more likely to stay together in the long term than those who only have a brief interval before starting a family, and that may partly be because they know one another as people much better.

The second period in Duvall's model is the nurturing period, when the oldest child is less than 2 years old and the couple are learning to cope with being new parents. It can be a stressful time for people, not made easier by lack of sleep and anxiety about how the child or children are progressing. So at this time, the couple are likely to need to give one another guite a high level of both practical and emotional support.

The third stage is what Duvall referred to as the authority period, in which the family have pre-school children with the oldest between 2 and 5 years old. Essentially, the parents have to train their pre-schoolers to behave in a socially acceptable way, and not act like tyrannical little monsters! This, 1007 can be a deeply demanding phase for the parents.

Things often ease up a little when the family enters the interpretive period, in which the oldest child is between 5 and 13 years old and at school. (The reason why Duvall categorizes these stages from the age of the oldest child is mainly because this signals the need for the parents to learn new behaviours. They have already learned most of the behaviours they will need for younger children - although each child is different, of course.)

The fifth period in the family life-cycle is the interdependent period, which consists of families with teenagers. At this time it becomes possible for the teenagers to take more of a share in the emotional and physical aspects of the family, and the relationship between parents and child can become a two-way, interdependent one rather than a simple, one-way, dependent one.

Then there is the sixth period, which Duvall refers to as the launching period, as the young adults emerge to become independent in society. Typically, this period involves some degree of support from home - perhaps providing a home for a child who is away at college during term-time, or providing help with furnishings or a regular Sunday lunch for a young adult who is independent and working. This period lasts from the time when the first child leaves, to when the last child leaves home.

The seventh is the empty-nest period, when all of the children have left and the parents are together at home. This can be quite a difficult adjustment for some families, particularly if the children have been the exclusive focus of attention. Some couples, though, find it a pleasant relief, because it means they can simply enjoy one another's company again. They often engage in co-operative activities, such as redecorating, or travelling together.

The final period in the family life-cycle which Duvall described is the retirement period, in which those members of the partnership who were working are now retired. This, too, can be a period of readjustment, particularly if one of the couple has been accustomed to having the house to themselves for most of the day.

We can see, then, that each stage of the family life-cycle involves different adjustments and new forms of learning. Although, inevitably, it does not fit every single family, identifying the different stages in this way has proved to be very useful for marriage guidance counselors and other people who are either trying to help people to adjust to changes in their relationships, or who are trying to do the adjusting themselves.

Vocabulary comments:

- the honeymoon period - период медового месяца.

The best time in my life was probably the honeymoon period.

- to get to know each other - узнавать друг друга.

At last the day came when we were to get to know each other.

- in the long term - надолго, на долгий срок.

I wish we could be together in the long term.

- starting a family - создание семьи.

Starting afamily is a serious deed that takes much responsibility.

- the nurturing period - обучающий период, воспитательный.

During the nurturing period the couple should support each other both practically and emotionally.

- a stressful time - напряженное время.

That was a very stressful time and we thought it'd never end.

lack of sleep - недостаток сна, недосыпание. Lack of sleep is a usual thing for me.

- quite a high level - довольно высокий уровень, степень.

То everybody's surprise he showed quite a high level of background.

- emotional support - эмоциональная поддержка.

All that I need is your emotional support.

- to refer to - ссылаться на.

This book is often referred to.

- the authority period - авторитарный период.

During the authority period the parents train the children to behave properly.

- in a socially acceptable way - социально-приемлимым

образом.

Before going to school all the children should be taught how to behave in a socially acceptable way

- a deeply demanding phase - фаза, требующая больших затрат.

Both the authority and the nurturing periods are deeply demanding phases.

- to ease up - становиться проще.

The climb eased up a bit when we reached the following rock.

- the interpretive period - период интерпретации.

Before the interpretive period the parents should learn new behaviours.

- life-cycle-жизненный цикл.

The family life-circle is a very hard thing, as you can see.

- the interdependent period - взаимозависимый период.

The families with teenagers face the problems of the interdependent period.

- to take more of a share - больше участвовать.

He need takes more of a share in his person life.

- two-way - двусторонний.

That was a two-way process and each of them wanted to win.

- the launching period — период начала самостоятельной деятельности.

The period that lasts from the time when the first child leaves, to when the last child leaves home, is called the launching period.

- some degree of support - некоторая степень поддержки.

We always need some degree of support on the part of our parents.

- the empty-nest period - период опустевшего (пустого) гнезда.

The empty-nest period can be a very difficult adjustment for some families.

- the exclusive focus of attention - исключительный центр внимания.

Pictures have always been the exclusive focus of attention for him.

- co-operative activities - совместная деятельность.

We'll achieve more if we engage in co-operative activities.

- the retirement period - пенсионный период.

The retirement period is the final one in the family life-circle according to Duvall.

- to fit every single family - подходить для каждой семьи.

Duvall's classification doesn't fit every single family.

- a marriage guidance counselor - советник, адвокат брачного руководства.

Marriage guidance counselors must be acquainted with Duvall's studies about the family life-circle.

- to adjust to changes - привыкать к переменам.

You will have to adjust to the changes sooner or later

- to do the adjusting themselves - адаптироваться без чьей-либо помощи.

Very few people can do the adjusting to serious changes in life themselves.

Answer the following questions:

1 How many stages of marriage were identified by Duvall?

2. What is the honeymoon period?

3. How did Duvall interpret the nurturing period?

4. What is the third stage of marriage?

5. What is the interpretive period?

6. Why did Duvall categorize the stages from the age of the oldest child?

7. What is the fifth period in the family life-cycle?

8. What does the launching period involve?

9. How long does it last?

10. Why is the seventh stage called the "empty-nest period"?

11. What is the final period of the family life-cycle?

12. Who is this classification useful for?

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